May 2015 Austin Music Mama Picks

When you are in the throes of mama-hood, it’s easy to forget that we live in the Live Music Capital of the World. It’s easy to forget how music can tell a story, lift you up and take you to a different place. You don’t necessarily have to go downtown, get super dressed up or break the bank.

Did we convince you? Great! Now, you just need some ideas of where to go. That’s why we’ve done the hard work for you. We’ve studied the listings, listened to the bands and have ten shows (plus one festival to bring the whole family to!) we recommend for this month. Keep in mind that some shows might sell out, so check the links before heading out. Have a blast!

Featured Event: Pachanga Latino Music Festival, May 16th, noon until 11pm

Pachanga returns to Fiesta Gardens for its 8th installment with music from former Mexican child-actress Ximena Sariñana; synth-pop hit makers Motel; acclaimed Spanish female rapper Mala Rodríguez and iconic Latin alt-electronic group Kinky, among others. If that weren’t enough for one day, kids 12 and under get in free with a ticketed adult and can enjoy their own festival-inside-the-Festival, Niños Rock, with special programming and music from Anthropos Arts, Bidi Bidi Banda (a Selena tribute band) Oaxaca Folklorica and more. For the first year, Pachanga is heading outside of Austin, with shows in Houston and Dallas prior to the Austin date. Tickets for general admission and VIP tickets (aka Very Important Taco tickets, which grant access to a complimentary five-taco tasting showcasing offering from local Austin restaurants, an air-conditioned lounge and other amenities, food and drink) are available online. ¿Nos vemos?

Check back here on LiveMom in the coming week for the low down on the Festival from founder, Rich Garza, plus, a giveaway!

Austin Music Mama May 2015 Roundup

5/2

The latest album fromCharlie Mars, The Money, is the final volume of a trilogy cut in Texas (the first two albums, Like a Bird, Like a Plane and Blackberry Light, were recorded in Austin and The Money in El Paso). Charlie plays Cactus Cafe for an 8:30pm show. Doors open at 8pm and tickets are $20.

5/5

Husband and wife duo Tennis return to Austin for a show at the Parish. Check out a live version of “Needle and a Knife” here. Kuroma opens. Doors open at 8pm for this all ages show. Tickets are $16 plus fees.

5/7

Head on over to Lambert’s for Armstrong Leigh, Elijah Ford & The Bloom and Nic Armstrong & The Thieves. This Austin/L.A.-based duo, consisting of Michelle Armstrong and Cristopher Leigh, recently opened for Vance Joy with Kaleo at Stubb’s. Doors open at 9:30pm for this 21+ show. Tickets are $6 plus fees.

5/8

Self-described “dream rock” band Emily Wolfe plays Lambert’s for a 21+ show. After this stop, Emily and her bandmates head to California, having successfully completed a Kickstarter campaign to fund the trip and the production of a full-length album which will include the catchy “Cigarette Burns”. Doors open at 9:30pm and tickets are $10 plus fees.

5/9

Torres, aka Mackenzie Scott, was recently featured on NPR Music with “Sprinter”, the title track of her new album to be released on May 4th. Scott played shows every day of SXSW earlier this year. Catch her at Mohawk for an all ages show. Doors open at 9pm and Aero Flynn opens. Tickets are $10 plus fees.

5/11

Indie folk band Lord Huron stops at Stubb’s with Leon Bridges to support the band’s new release, Strange Trails. Watch the video for “Fool for Love” here, which includes an actual phone number you can call to join in the story. Doors open at 7pm for this all ages show. Tickets start at $22 plus fees.

5/14

Brooklyn-based trio Dreamers will bring its cosmic rock to Stubb’s (indoors) in support of the band’s forthcoming release, This Album Does Not Exist. Check out the band’s single, “Wolves”, to get a taste of Dreamers’ sound. Doors open at 9:30pm for this all ages show. Tickets are $10 plus fees.

5/15

Austin-based Abram Shook will be having his album release party at the Mohawk to celebrate Landscape Dream, the followup to his 2014 Sun Marquee. You can listen to the lead single, “Understood”, here. Good Field and Royal Forest open this all ages show. Doors at 9pm and show starts at 10pm. Tickets are $6 ($8 minors).

5/20

Chazwick Bradley Bundick, better known by his stage name Toro y Moi, takes the stage at Emo’s for an all ages show. “Empty Nesters” is the lead single off his new album, What For?, which was released in April. Doors open at 9pm and Keath Mead opens. Tickets are $23 plus fees.

5/30

Geographer made the rounds during SXSW and is back to play a show at the Mohawk with Empires and Idlehands. Doors open at 8pm for this all ages show. Tickets are $13 plus fees.

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://www.livemom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Nicole-Basham-Sara-Marzani-Photography-livemom.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]A native Austinite and soccer-playing mom, Nicole uses her 9-year-old son as an excuse to rediscover her hometown through his eyes. In Thoreau’s words, her mission is to “suck out all the marrow of life”, or in her son’s words, to cultivate in him a love of “advenchers”.[/author_info] [/author]
[facebook]
[retweet]

A native Austinite and soccer-playing mom, Nicole uses her 10-year-old son as an excuse to rediscover her hometown through his eyes. In Thoreau's words, her mission is to "suck out all the marrow of life", or in her son's words, to cultivate in him a love of "advenchers".